http://cwsgrp.com/ CWS Consulting Group Real Estate Updates and News en Copyright 2011 chris.steele@cwsgrp.com (Chris Steele) info@cwsgrp.com http://cwsgrp.com/RSSfeed/rdfRSS_RDF_XML.gifhttp://cwsgrp.com/ Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:00:00 GMT Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:00:00 GMT RSS DreamFeeder v 2.5.2 Local merchants provide goods and services that we need and that are specifically tailored to the local market. In many cases they provide the essential foundation upon which the community itself builds. How many of us recall and treasure the bookstore, coffee house, diner, hobby shop, or even a record store that featured prominently in our lives? Local merchants are only successful if people buy their food, services, and goods. Local stores are worth a second (or even a first) look. http://blog.cwsgrp.com/2011/11/06/the-value-of-local-retail.aspx Local merchants provide goods and services that we need and that are specifically tailored to the local market. In many cases they provide the essential foundation upon which the community itself builds. How many of us recall and treasure the bookstore, coffee house, diner, hobby shop, or even a record store that featured prominently in our lives? Local merchants are only successful if people buy their food, services, and goods. Local stores are worth a second (or even a first) look. http://blog.cwsgrp.com/2011/11/06/the-value-of-local-retail.aspx http://blog.cwsgrp.com/2011/11/06/the-value-of-local-retail.aspx Sun, 6 Nov 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Communities and developers alike have examined how bringing port and international logistics activity off the docks can improve freight flow. It can also provide for economic development benefits and spur additional growth. Learn more in Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business New column http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/issue/45814/15/ Communities and developers alike have examined how bringing port and international logistics activity off the docks can improve freight flow. It can also provide for economic development benefits and spur additional growth. Learn more in Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business New column http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/issue/45814/15/ http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/issue/45814/15/ Sat, 15 Oct 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Many companies forget that any form of real estate whether it be a purchase or a lease defines their own workspace for a period of time. Most landlords refuse to do deals of less than five years, so a company needs a relatively accurate five-year plan in order to comfortably commit to such a deal. But thinking flexibly can help avoid big downside risks! http://blog.cwsgrp.com/2011/09/07/whats-the-worst-or-best-that-can-happen.aspx Many companies forget that any form of real estate whether it be a purchase or a lease defines their own workspace for a period of time. Most landlords refuse to do deals of less than five years, so a company needs a relatively accurate five-year plan in order to comfortably commit to such a deal. But thinking flexibly can help avoid big downside risks! http://blog.cwsgrp.com/2011/09/07/whats-the-worst-or-best-that-can-happen.aspx http://blog.cwsgrp.com/2011/09/07/whats-the-worst-or-best-that-can-happen.aspx Wed, 7 Sep 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele John Kasarda has written of a coming day in which the most efficient build form will be based around airports. But is this likely in a world of rising fuel costs and a severely challenged airline industry? Read more in Chris Steele’s column in Cargo Business News http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/issue/39009/15/ John Kasarda has written of a coming day in which the most efficient build form will be based around airports. But is this likely in a world of rising fuel costs and a severely challenged airline industry? Read more in Chris Steele’s column in Cargo Business News http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/issue/39009/15/ http://digital.nexsitepublishing.com/issue/39009/15/ Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Union presence has been a part of the location decision for some time, but the current case involving Boeing and the NLRB are making the calculus more complex. Have unions overstepped their bounds, or is there an effective role for these institutions that drove the creation of the American workplace as we know it? See Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business News column for more. http://bit.ly/o2sGoq Union presence has been a part of the location decision for some time, but the current case involving Boeing and the NLRB are making the calculus more complex. Have unions overstepped their bounds, or is there an effective role for these institutions that drove the creation of the American workplace as we know it? See Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business News column for more. http://bit.ly/o2sGoq http://bit.ly/o2sGoq Sun, 7 Aug 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Yes, we've been working a lot with the Canadians this year, and for good reason! THe Canadian government and private sector have both taken proactive steps towards improving logistics between the US and Canada. See Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business News column for more. http://ow.ly/5gW35 Yes, we've been working a lot with the Canadians this year, and for good reason! THe Canadian government and private sector have both taken proactive steps towards improving logistics between the US and Canada. See Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business News column for more. http://ow.ly/5gW35 http://ow.ly/5gW35 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Having alternative options is always a good thing, and the concept is the basic premise underlying intermodal transportation. Congress is currently evaluating a set of bills which will allow individual states to increase maximum truck weights allowed on the interstate system up from 80,000 lbs to 96,000 lbs. This could also mean that communities which are already served by rail could lose these capabilities. See Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business News column for some thoughts on the issue. http://bit.ly/mU5Syk Having alternative options is always a good thing, and the concept is the basic premise underlying intermodal transportation. Congress is currently evaluating a set of bills which will allow individual states to increase maximum truck weights allowed on the interstate system up from 80,000 lbs to 96,000 lbs. This could also mean that communities which are already served by rail could lose these capabilities. See Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business News column for some thoughts on the issue. http://bit.ly/mU5Syk http://bit.ly/mU5Syk Fri, 6 May 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele While union activity can influence corporate decisions, the recent decision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to file a complaint against Boeing breaks new ground. By saying that Boeing’s selection of a South Carolina location is a direct threat to US unions, the NLRB may be doing unions an incredible disservice. http://bit.ly/gOLYuY While union activity can influence corporate decisions, the recent decision of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to file a complaint against Boeing breaks new ground. By saying that Boeing’s selection of a South Carolina location is a direct threat to US unions, the NLRB may be doing unions an incredible disservice. http://bit.ly/gOLYuY http://bit.ly/gOLYuY Fri, 6 May 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Ports face fundamental questions on how to address competing demands for waterfront real estate. Waterfront land is functionally important for water-borne commerce, but it is also highly desirable for residential and commercial development. See Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business News column for some thoughts on the issue. http://ow.ly/4wHJz Ports face fundamental questions on how to address competing demands for waterfront real estate. Waterfront land is functionally important for water-borne commerce, but it is also highly desirable for residential and commercial development. See Chris Steele’s latest Cargo Business News column for some thoughts on the issue. http://ow.ly/4wHJz http://ow.ly/4wHJz Sat, 9 Apr 2011 15:00:00 GMT Chris Steele CWS Consulting Group is pleased to announce a new partnership with some old friends. We will be partnering with IC Associates (based in the Netherlands) to broaden our reach and our service profile. Read more at the link below. http://bit.ly/g93Ukf CWS Consulting Group is pleased to announce a new partnership with some old friends. We will be partnering with IC Associates (based in the Netherlands) to broaden our reach and our service profile. Read more at the link below. http://bit.ly/g93Ukf http://bit.ly/g93Ukf Tue, 8 Mar 2011 18:00:00 GMT Chris Steele What is the Most Important Thing companies look at when making site selection decisions? What is the one thing that communities need to pay attention to most when trying to attract businesses? See our post at Strengthening Brand America to find out. http://bit.ly/gPmXXw What is the Most Important Thing companies look at when making site selection decisions? What is the one thing that communities need to pay attention to most when trying to attract businesses? See our post at Strengthening Brand America to find out. http://bit.ly/fJYZli http://bit.ly/gPmXXw Sun, 6 Mar 2011 18:00:00 GMT Chris Steele CWS Consulting Group began matching businesses and communities two years ago. We thank our clients, and look forward to more great projects to come. http://bit.ly/fJYZli CWS Consulting Group began matching businesses and communities two years ago. We thank our clients, and look forward to more great projects to come. http://bit.ly/fJYZli http://bit.ly/fJYZli Thu, 3 Mar 2011 18:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Whether yours is a community who desires more business investment or one with concerns about land use, pollution, and traffic, an understanding of how freight moves is critical to understanding how to work with freight and logistics companies. Our recent study for the Transportation Research Board has provided us with new and comprehensive insights on what works well and what does not. Read Chris Steele’s treatment of the issue in the current edition of Cargo Business News. http://bit.ly/hLMAEr Whether yours is a community who desires more business investment or one with concerns about land use, pollution, and traffic, an understanding of how freight moves is critical to understanding how to work with freight and logistics companies. Our recent study for the Transportation Research Board has provided us with new and comprehensive insights on what works well and what does not. Read Chris Steele’s treatment of the issue in the current edition of Cargo Business News. http://bit.ly/hLMAEr http://bit.ly/hLMAEr Sun, 27 Feb 2011 18:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Are “Clusters”- the tendency for companies to locate near other companies like themselves – a thing of the past, or is the concept still relevant in a digital, flat, global economy? As always it depends. Read Chris Steele’s treatment of the issue in the current edition of Area Development magazine. http://bit.ly/fieXop Are “Clusters”- the tendency for companies to locate near other companies like themselves – a thing of the past, or is the concept still relevant in a digital, flat, global economy? As always it depends. Read Chris Steele’s treatment of the issue in the current edition of Area Development magazine. http://bit.ly/fidOlH http://bit.ly/fidOlH Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele U.S. Real estate and Supply Chain professionals often disagree about how best to set up a distribution network. More small local sites, or fewer large centralized sites. Does Europe have different lessons to teach? Read more at Chris Steele's latest Cargo Business News column. http://bit.ly/fieXop U.S. Real estate and Supply Chain professionals often disagree about how best to set up a distribution network. More small local sites, or fewer large centralized sites. Does Europe have different lessons to teach? Read more at Chris Steele's latest Cargo Business News column. http://bit.ly/fieXop http://bit.ly/fieXop Fri, 28 Jan 2011 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele While we watch constant commercials about the year-end automobile sales, it may be worthwhile to examine a somewhat similar concept in the real estate world: The brownfield property. Read more at Chris Steele's latest Cargo Business News column. http://bit.ly/eUXt3G While we watch constant commercials about the year-end automobile sales, it may be worthwhile to examine a somewhat similar concept in the real estate world: The brownfield property. Read more at Chris Steele's latest Cargo Business News column. http://bit.ly/eUXt3G http://bit.ly/eUXt3G Thu, 30 Dec 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele We are pround to announce that Jessica Eckhardt has joined the CWS Consulting Group and will be heading our geographic information systems efforts. Learn more about Jessica at the attached link. http://bit.ly/gbebxa We are pround to announce that Jessica Eckhardt has joined the CWS Consulting Group and will be heading our geographic information systems efforts. Learn more about Jessica at the attached link. http://bit.ly/gbebxa http://bit.ly/gbebxa Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele In the Closing Thoughts column of this month's Cargo Business News, Chris Steele talk about the role of all levels of the workforce in driving innovation. Perhaps outsourcing for short-term cost reduction will have long-term consequences. http://bit.ly/gHkjE0 In the Closing Thoughts column of this month's Cargo Business News, Chris Steele talk about the role of all levels of the workforce in driving innovation. Perhaps outsourcing for short-term cost reduction will have long-term consequences. http://bit.ly/gHkjE0 http://bit.ly/gHkjE0 Sat, 27 Nov 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Through our work with economic development agencies as well as some work we have recently done with transportation agencies, we have gained a renewed awareness of just how often good policy ideas fail simply because another agency’s policy gets in the way. At the very least, opportunities for community business attraction can be limited when economic development policy does not coordinate well with such things as regulation, land use policy, tax policy, and even transportation. Chris Steele’s latest column for Cargo Business News illustrates the importance for coordinating between agencies and functions. http://tinyurl.com/2b998eg Through our work with economic development agencies as well as some work we have recently done with transportation agencies, we have gained a renewed awareness of just how often good policy ideas fail simply because another agency’s policy gets in the way. At the very least, opportunities for community business attraction can be limited when economic development policy does not coordinate well with such things as regulation, land use policy, tax policy, and even transportation. Chris Steele’s latest column for Cargo Business News illustrates the importance for coordinating between agencies and functions. http://tinyurl.com/2b998eg http://tinyurl.com/2b998eg Wed, 27 Oct 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Speaking at the Journal of Commerce's East Coast Maritime Conference in Jersey City last week, Chris Steele identified how the changing needs of freight based companies are beginning to drive a new set of location and real estate decisions. This was corroborated by presentations given at the sesssion by the Norfolk Southern, Drewry Shipping Consultants, PIERS Maritime Research, the World Shipping Council, and the CSX. Each had a different lens through which to see the world, but the changes and apparent opportunities for developers, corporations, and communities are out there. All of the presentations - including Chris Steele's - may be found at the link below. http://tinyurl.com/25xu9v4 Speaking at the Journal of Commerce's East Coast Maritime Conference in Jersey City last week, Chris Steele identified how the changing needs of freight based companies are beginning to drive a new set of location and real estate decisions. This was corroborated by presentations given at the sesssion by the Norfolk Southern, Drewry Shipping Consultants, PIERS Maritime Research, the World Shipping Council, and the CSX. Each had a different lens through which to see the world, but the changes and apparent opportunities for developers, corporations, and communities are out there. All of the presentations - including Chris Steele's - may be found at the link below. http://tinyurl.com/25xu9v4 http://tinyurl.com/25xu9v4 Tue, 05 Oct 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Back in 2000 (when we were at Ernst & Young) our team helped a small startup called Enporion select Tampa, Florida for their new headquarters. The project needed to be done in a little over a month so that the company could open its doors, but the location also needed to be able to adapt to the company's changing needs for people, partners, and other inputs as it grew. Ten years later, and Enporion is going strong and still calls Tampa home - Proof that we really do know how to match businesses to locations for long-term success! http://www.cwsgrp.com/Publications/Enporion10YearsMadduxNewsWire09-15-10.pdf Back in 2000 (when we were at Ernst & Young) our team helped a small startup called Enporion select Tampa, Florida for their new headquarters. The project needed to be done in a little over a month so that the company could open its doors, but the location also needed to be able to adapt to the company's changing needs for people, partners, and other inputs as it grew. Ten years later, and Enporion is going strong and still calls Tampa home - Proof that we really do know how to match businesses to locations for long-term success! http://www.cwsgrp.com/Publications/Enporion10YearsMadduxNewsWire09-15-10.pdf http://www.cwsgrp.com/Publications/Enporion10YearsMadduxNewsWire09-15-10.pdf Wed, 22 Sep 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele This is shaping up to be a very busy September and October for our group. We will be updating the website, some new team members, and we may have even more exciting news as the Autumn progresses. Please see the attached for a calendar of Fall events. http://www.cwsgrp.com/Publications/CWSAutumn2010Events.pdf This is shaping up to be a very busy September and October for our group. We will be updating the website, some new team members, and we may have even more exciting news as the Autumn progresses. Please see the attached for a calendar of Fall events. http://www.cwsgrp.com/Publications/CWSAutumn2010Events.pdf http://www.cwsgrp.com/Publications/CWSAutumn2010Events.pdf Sat, 4 Sep 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Many of the calls we receive from EDC seek to confirm the belief that incentives are really driving location decisions when they are in fact not. This Boston Federal Reserve performed a study which seems to confirm this in a fairly nuanced way. However, there’s another subtle question that has not yet been suitably answered. While we know that the incentives do not necessarily win location projects, does the *lack* of incentive packages or programs *lose* location projects? We hope not, but don’t have the answer. http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/neppc/dp/2009/neppcdp0903.pdf Many of the calls we receive from EDC seek to confirm the belief that incentives are really driving location decisions when they are in fact not. This Boston Federal Reserve performed a study which seems to confirm this in a fairly nuanced way. However, there’s another subtle question that has not yet been suitably answered. While we know that the incentives do not necessarily win location projects, does the *lack* of incentive packages or programs *lose* location projects? We hope not, but don’t have the answer. http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/neppc/dp/2009/neppcdp0903.pdf http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/neppc/dp/2009/neppcdp0903.pdf Sat, 7 Aug 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele More observations on rail development. We need high speed passenger rail, but we need to determine how to preserve the freight rail system as well. American freight rail has evolved considerably since the Staggers Act. It would be a shame to lose what progress has been made just as fuel costs start to force us to use our considerable rail capacity. The Economist agrees. http://www.economist.com/node/16636101 More observations on rail development. We need high speed passenger rail, but we need to determine how to preserve the freight rail system as well. American freight rail has evolved considerably since the Staggers Act. It would be a shame to lose what progress has been made just as fuel costs start to force us to use our considerable rail capacity. The Economist agrees. http://www.economist.com/node/16636101 http://www.economist.com/node/16636101 Sat, 7 Aug 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Are incentives truly a zero-sum game where the public sector gives something up to get or retain a corporate presence? Not necessarily, but public agencies need to be clear about what they want to accomplish from the negotiation. http://www.cargobusinessnews-digital.com/cargobusinessnews/201006#pg9 Are incentives truly a zero-sum game where the public sector gives something up to get or retain a corporate presence? Not necessarily, but public agencies need to be clear about what they want to accomplish from the negotiation. http://www.cargobusinessnews-digital.com/cargobusinessnews/201006#pg9 http://www.cargobusinessnews-digital.com/cargobusinessnews/201006#pg9 Sat, 7 Aug 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Chris Steele writes in Area Development magazine on how Canada’s infrastructure and logistics advantages are helping its businesses to remain competitive as they increase their share of global trade: http://tinyurl.com/37docod Chris Steele writes in Area Development magazine on how Canada’s infrastructure and logistics advantages are helping its businesses to remain competitive as they increase their share of global trade: http://tinyurl.com/37docod http://tinyurl.com/37docod Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele Brownfield properties can be excellent opportunities for investment and development. Chris Steele to speak at the April 30 EBC forum in Waltham, MA on why business can be attracted to these sites and techniques for improving the odds: http://tinyurl.com/y33m2b5 Brownfield properties can be excellent opportunities for investment and development. Chris Steele to speak at the April 30 EBC forum in Waltham, MA on why business can be attracted to these sites and techniques for improving the odds: http://tinyurl.com/y33m2b5 http://tinyurl.com/y33m2b5 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:00:00 GMT Chris Steele CWS Consulting Group LLC thanks our clients and partners for a successful first year: http://www.cwsgrp.com/cwsanniversary.pdf CWS Consulting Group LLC thanks our clients and partners for a successful first year: http://www.cwsgrp.com/cwsanniversary.pdf http://www.cwsgrp.com/cwsanniversary.pdf Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:00:00 GMT Chris Steele What are we to do with our older communities, once successful centers of industry, now centers of joblessness and decay. Adam Ploetz and Chris Steele explore the issues and what local governments can do to reimagine their communities and economies. http://www.cwsgrp.com/APA_ED_Article.pdf What are we to do with our older communities, once successful centers of industry, now centers of joblessness and decay. Adam Ploetz and Chris Steele explore the issues and what local governments can do to reimagine their communities and economies. http://www.cwsgrp.com/APA_ED_Article.pdf http://www.cwsgrp.com/APA_ED_Article.pdf Mon, 17 Feb 2010 19:20:00 GMT Chris Steele The Canadian economy was not hit nearly as hard as that of the US in the latest recession. Additionally, the country’s truly continent-wide rail network present a variety of real estate development opportunities for freight development. In the first of two articles, Chris Steele gives an overview of some key developments: http://www.cargobusinessnews.com/Feb10/supply_chain.html The Canadian economy was not hit nearly as hard as that of the US in the latest recession. Additionally, the country’s truly continent-wide rail network present a variety of real estate development opportunities for freight development. In the first of two articles, Chris Steele gives an overview of some key developments: http://www.cargobusinessnews.com/Feb10/supply_chain.html http://www.cargobusinessnews.com/Feb10/supply_chain.html Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:20:00 GMT Chris Steele Some signs of economic life came out of the Southeast Freight Conference in Charlotte. Some of these could have implications for freight-related real estate development. Chris Steele’s column gives highlights: http://www.cargobusinessnews.com/Dec09/supply_chain.html Some signs of economic life came out of the Southeast Freight Conference in Charlotte. Some of these could have implications for freight-related real estate development. Chris Steele’s column gives highlights: http://www.cargobusinessnews.com/Dec09/supply_chain.html http://www.cargobusinessnews.com/Dec09/supply_chain.html Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:29:59 GMT Chris Steele